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West Rowan High School two-sport star Justin Davis will continue his athletic career next fall at Western Carolina University.
Davis, a star in track and football for West’s Falcons, has signed an athletic letter of intent at WCU, where he has received a partial track scholarship. He will also walk on in football with a chance to earn a scholarship as a sophomore.
The 17-year-old Davis led Rowan County in the long jump (22 feet, 112 inches) and triple jump (45-7) during the past track season. He was also No. 3 in the 100 meters with a time of 11.10 seconds and ran on the Falcons’ 400 relay team that ranked second in the county.
“I feel real good, because when I was a freshman, I was jumping 32 feet in the triple jump, then I came on really strong my last two years. If I keep working, I think I can get to 50 feet pretty soon, maybe my sophomore year in college,” said Davis.
West head track coach Ralph Ellis has praised Davis all season and expects him to do well in college track.
Ellis was especially proud of Davis in the Rowan County Meet, when the athlete had to win the final event, the triple jump, to give West the title.
“I told him, ‘Justin, you’ve got to win it.’ He came up with a pretty good 44-foot jump, and that made the difference,” said Ellis.
Davis finished his career by triple jumping 45-512 and long jumping a personal best 22-112 in the state 3A meet in Raleigh to claim two third places. He was fourth in the triple jump as a junior.
West’s victory ended North Rowan’s 12-year reign as county champion.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder excelled for West in football as a wide receiver and return specialist.
Davis caught 35 passes for 416 yards to rank sixth in the county in receiving yardage.
He led Rowan in total kick returns for touchdowns with four and punt returns for TDs with three. He had a county record 100-yard kickoff return plus punt returns of 70, 63 and 47 yards for scores.
Davis scored at least one touchdown in six West games and finished with eight touchdowns and 58 points, ranking fifth in the county in scoring.
“Justin is just one of those kids who was a pleasure to coach,” said head football coach Scott Young. “He’s talented and made all-county and all-conference (South Piedmont). He’s very, very good in the open field. He’s pretty gifted as far as his kick returning and punt returning skills. I think he’ll do well if he works hard at it.”
Davis said he chose the Catamounts over North Carolina Central after both recruited him. He decided he liked WCU after making a visit to Cullowhee, where several other Rowan athletes will be next school year.
“I saw a lot of people up there that I knew. Scooter Dalton(West teammate) got his football scholarship. That’s where I was wanting to go to bring back old memories,” said Davis.
Dalton, a West running back, received a football scholarship from the Catamounts in February.
“They(football coaches) felt real good that I could help out the team this year and probably get a scholarship next year,” Davis said.
Davis also pointed out that former North Rowan track stars Shevon Neely and Ernest Moss were on the WCU track team during the spring. He’s been their teammate during summers on the Rowan Express Track Club.
“I’m going to do summer track again to help me get ready. Hopefully, by my senior year in college, I can be jumping at least 55 feet in the triple and maybe 25 feet in the long jump,” he said.
Justin is the third member of his family to play sports at West and will be the second to play college sports. Brother Jason (J.D.) starred in football at West and went on to earn a scholarship at Catawba. Brother Ben Jr. played one year of varsity basketball for the Falcons.
They are the sons of Ben Sr. and Suzette Davis of 403 Ashbrook Rd., Salisbury.
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